Tea Lingo: Tisane

Tisane: (n.) a beverage made from a blend of herbs, spices, and fruits infused in hot water.

Like coffee, tea is a specific species of plant (Camellia sinensis) whose leaves contain caffeine. There are two main varieties of tea, prominent in China and India respectively. White, green, oolong, and black teas are all harvested from one or the other of the two varieties, but are dried and processed differently to achieve different flavor profiles. Tisanes (what we know as “herbal teas”) are not actually tea at all. They are made up of other plants (spices, herbs, etc.) with medicinal or flavor qualities, and are usually non-caffeinated.

As part of our new Tea & Tisane program, most of our cafes now offer 2 delicious tisane sachets for steeping: Peppermint Cardamom (refreshing, with notes of basil and clove) and Ginger Turmeric (warming, with notes of candied lemon and fresh ginger).